Praśna 8, Kaṇḍikā 9

1. Then the Adhvaryu should say (to the Hotṛ),“Do you recite the verses for the two fires being enkindled.”

2. In the same way he should modify the call so as to involve duality with regard to the cleansing of the fires.

3. The northern fire becomes cleansed, while the southern one remains uncleansed.

4. Then the Pratiprasthātṛ should ask the sacrificer’s wife, “How many lovers have you

5. If the sacrificer’s wife does not speak out the name of her lover even though she has one, she would bring calamity to her beloved kinsmen. She should mention his name by saying, “N.N. is my lover.” In that she mentions his name, she causes him to be fastened by the bonds of Varuṇa. So is it said.^[1]

6. The Pratiprasthātṛ should say, “May Varuṇa catch them,” with regard to as many lovers as she might have mentioned, and bring her forward with the verse, “We invoke the voracious Maruts, the receivers of sacrifice, and agreeable with karambha.”^[2]

7. The sacrificer should spread clarified butter as base on the winnowing basket made of iṣīka-grass, pour out the karambha-pots in it, pour out clarified butter on them, hold the basket on his head, stand in front of the (southern) Āhavanīya fire facing towards the west, and, accompanied by his wife, offer those karambha-pots on that fire.

8. The sacrificer should recite the puronuvākyā, “Do thou not be against us in battles, O god Indra. Let there be expiation to satisfy thee, O impetuous one; for the barley-heap of this bountiful one is great. Maruts, whom our song praises, are rich in oblation.”^[3]

9. Both (he) and his wife should recite the yājyā, “The wrong which we have done in the village, in the forest, in the assembly, in the strength, the wrong to Śūdra or Ārya, the wrong contrary to the law whatever, of that thou art the expiation, svāhā.”^[4]

10-11. Or as the next best alternative, the Adhvaryu himself should offer the karambha-pots; the other two should touch him.

12. While going away, the sacrificer and his wife should murmur the verse, “The doers of the deed have performed the deed with wondrous speech. Having done the deed for the gods, do you go to your home, you bountious ones.”^[5]

13. Then (the Āgnīdhra) should cleanse the southern fire.

14. The Adhvaryu alone should choose the Hotṛ.

15. Both the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ should offer nine Prayājas each.

16. After having offered the two Ājyabhāgas.^[6]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa I.6.5.2.

[2]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.3.1.

[3]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.3.1.

[4]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.3.1.

[5]:

Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.8.3.2.

[6]:

See the next sūtra.